Schwinger's picture of quantum mechanics Articles uri icon

publication date

  • March 2020

issue

  • 4(2050054)

volume

  • 17

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0219-8878

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1793-6977

abstract

  • In this paper, we will present the main features of what can be called Schwinger's foundational approach to Quantum Mechanics. The basic ingredients of this formulation are the selective measurements, whose algebraic composition rules define a mathematical structure called groupoid, which is associated with any physical system. After the introduction of the basic axioms of a groupoid, the concepts of observables and states, statistical interpretation and evolution are derived. An example is finally introduced to support the theoretical description of this approach.

subjects

  • Physics

keywords

  • schwinger algebra; groupoids; groupoid algebra; c∗-algebra; quantum measures; states; factorizable states